Bubble blower



R. V. HOLLIS BUBBLE BLOWER April 10, 1956 Filed Aug. 18, 1953 ATTORNEXS United States arent BUBBLE BLOWER Robert Vaughn Hollis, Glenview, lli,

Application August 18, 1953, Serial No. 374,353

7 Claims. (Cl. 46-1?) This invention relates to bubble blowers, which primarily may be considered a toy.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a bubble blower including a lm supporting annulus adapted to be reciprocably freely suspended within a vessel of bubble making liquid in such a manner that it rests submerged in said fluid when at the lower limit of its range of reciprocation, and stands above the mouth of the vessel at the upper limit of its movement, the suspending means being a llexible element such as a string, which passes over the side of the vessel at the mouth, the annulus being supported by an underlying guiding frame which is freely gravitationally descendable with said annulus and which cooperates with the sides of the vessel to hold said annulus in stable upright position when at its upper limit of reciprocation with the airis of the annulus in a determined axial plane of the vessel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lm supporting annulus as described, adapted to be suspended in a vessel such as a jar, the inside walls of which converge toward the mouth, the supporting frame being weighted beneath said annulus and having forward extensions normally out of contact with the wall of the vessel, said frame being tiltable upwardly when it reaches the region of convergence of the walls of the vessel to bring said extensions against the walls of the vessel to hold said frame and annulus stably while the annulus is in its bubble blowing position.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of the hlm sustaining annulus, the supporting frame therefor and the suspending means as above described in which the suspending means passes through an eye in a guide member seated upon the mouth of a jar circumferentially at one side, the eye determining a definite radial position of that part of the suspending means between said eye and frame when said suspending means is tensioned, bringing the annulus and frame to a position in which the axis of the annulus is in the same radial plane as said eye.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a iilm supporting annulus comprising a circumferential series of closely spaced disks constituting a reservoir for bubble liquid held by surface tension, suiiicient for a plurality of bubble blowing sequences.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hlm supporting annulus as described, having a reservoir for bubble liquid carried thereby above its upper arc and communicating with said annulus.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a nozzle adapted to be supported on the mouth of the vessel at the side, confronting saidv annulus with its axis substantially in line with the axis of said annulus.

A further object of the invention is the provision of bubble blowing mechanism as described, the vessel having a closure to which the end of the suspending element remotetfrom the annulus may be attached, the attaching means serving as a spool about which the slack por- Vtion of the suspending element may be wound when it is desired to close the vessel with the annulus and supporting frame unit within it.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

ln the drawings which accompany and form a part of the following specication, and throughout the several figures of which the same reference numerals have been employed to denote identical parts:

Figure l is a perspective view of a bubble blower embodying the principles of the invention, part of the nozzle being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2--2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an alternative form of nozzle shown in axial section;

Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 5; f

Figure 7 is a cross-section taken alonU the line 7--7 of Figure 5.

Referring now in detail to the several figures of the drawings, the numera l represents a conventional jar having .a screw cap 2, the inner wall of the jar converging toward the mouth in a zone adjacent the mouth. The villni supporting annulus 3 is of such size as to pass freely through the mouth of the jar toward one side of the diameter thereof` The annulus, as shown, consistsof a wire 4 strung with sequins 5, separated by beads 6, also strung on the wire. The wire is bent, in the upper are of the annulus, to provide two upwardly extending spaced loops '7. These extend freely through holes in the bottom of the reservoir which is supported upon the annulus by means of said loops. The upper face of the reservoir is provided with relatively large holes 9, so that when the annulus and reservoir are submerged within the jar, the bubble liquid in the reservoir 8 is replenished. The close spacing of the sequins enables the annulus to hold, through surface tension, suiiicient liquid for a succession of blowing operations, and the reservoir holds an additional quantity of bubble liquid which slowly discharges upon the annulus through the small holes which surround the loops 7.

The frame lil which supports the annulus comprises, in the illustrative construction shown, a small blocl; ll which carries an upright post l2 at the top, the annulus being secured to the upper end of said post at the middle of its lower arc. A wire l has its middle portion passing transversely through said block, which as shown, is bent to form weight receiving loops i4 at opposite sides of said block. A pair of weights l5 are secured in said loops. The wire extends downwardly from both loops, providing Shanks le to which a second pair of weights 17 are secured. Both pairs of weights are symmetrically positioned with respect to a medial vertical plane through the block il and embracing the axis of the annulus, and the weights of a pair are so positioned that when they are in contact with the adjacent wall of the jar the line between their points of Contact with the jar will be perpendicular to said medial plane. While two pairs of weights are shown in the illustrative example, a single pair, for instance the lower pair i7, may suffice.

Below the weights 17 both end portions of the wire 13 are bent forwardly substantially at right angles to the Shanks 16, forming the limbs 18 which, in the interest of greater length with consequent increase in nexibility for adjustment, are each bent into a transverse loop 19 intermediately, with the terminal portions 20 freely Vbody of the jar, assume a repose position :avanceeV diagonally intersecting and bent to form rounded ends 21V i The unit comprising the annulus 3 with the reservoir 8 and including the frame 10, is suspended by a string 22 'attached to the block 1i above the weights i7, which string passes over the` mouth of the jar. 'vl/hen the 4string is let go slack, the unit descends into the g'ar by gravity, to the bottom thereof, it being presumed that the depth of the bubble liquid in the jar is suiilcient to submerge the entire unit, including the reservoir. During descent, the position of the unit rrsoect to its angular displacement is desultory, since it may swing with the tortional movement of the string so that no parts of it may be in contact'with the wall of the jar or only the pair of weights 17. Since the forwardly extending limbs 1S overbmance the unit, it will when down in the ined to a greater extent than as shown in Figure 4.

While the unit is .suspended in the lower part of the jar the Yflight 23 of the string 22, which extends between the mouth of the jar and the frame lll, is vertical so Y that there is no component of force tending to tilt vthe frame contra to its normal Vposition ofV forward tilt. However, as the unit rises under the pull of the string, the flight 2.3 gradually changes from a vertical position to one more nearly horizontal, creating a component of` force which tilts the unit backward.

Attire initialepvull ofthe string, no matter what may have been the position of angular displacement of, the

Vunitrwithin the jar, it automatically arranges itself in a phase of angular displacement in which the tlight 23 ofV the string is substantially in the medial vertical plane embracing the axis of the annulus and with respect to which, as has been stated, the weights of the respective pairs are symmetrically arranged. When the frame lil is pulled up to the point at which the weights i7 contact the convergent part of the interior wall of the lar adjacent the mouth, the frame tilts back, using the weights 17 as a fulcrurn until the ends 2l of the limbs i3 contact the wall of the jar at the opposite side, this posi- Lion of parts being shown in Figure 4, the annulus being Y preferably so disposed that its axis is inclined slightly upward in a direction opposite to the string 22 so as to be substantially in line with the jet emanating from the month of the person doing the blowing, who is presumed to be holding the jar in his hand. When the unit is in this position, it is stably Vsupported by the two weights i7 contacting the jar at one side,V md the ends of the two limbs i8 contacting the jar at the opposite side, and the unit will retain this stable position so long as the llight 23 of the string remains tensioned.

The adjustability of the limbs i8 is for the purpose of tting the frame to jars of different diameters. The terminal portions of the limbs may be bent in one direction or the other so as to contact the wall of the lar atV the proper point inthe backward tilt of the frame it?. The invention may be considered operatively complete, inthe embodiment of the structure which has thus far been described, since the air for the bubbles can be impinged directly against the ilrn supported by the annulus by a jet direct from the mouth of the person doing the blowing, without the intermediary of a nozzle or mouthpiece, and it is suiiicient to have the string overlie the mouth of the jar at any point on the side remote from the` one doing theV blowing. However, it is frequently desirable to have the string pass over the mouth of the jar at a lixed point, and this is particularly true if a nozzle or mouthpiece is employed in the blowing. Figures l, 3 and 4 show a spring clip 24 detachably embracing the rim of theV jar at the mouth, having an open eye 25 into which the string may be introduced; and Figures l and 4 show a spring clipA 26 supported on the ot thebottle mouth, having anuprigh't'exible Vrast '27 fermi-r1 with a: 1.0012 alf itSUPPf-r and dwell' renewing. ilaria 2.5... the. laterbeiriis". 'supported by said clip. The flexibility of lthe post 27 enables the nozzl'eto be 'aimed at the center of the annulus. 'Ihe nozzle 28 is a, tubular member having a mouthpiece 29 at one end. it normally has a relatively large bore Si? at its discharge end for blowing largey bubbles. As shown, it is provided with an auxiliary cap 31 tethered to the nozzle by means of a cord'32, and is frictionally iltted to the mouth end of the nozzle, as shown in Figure 4. It has a bore 33 of reduced size used for blowing chains of small or bullet bubbles. The .bubble bb r may sold as a toy, particularly without the string guiding clip 22, nozzle clip 26, and nozzle 2,8. The

paper liner within the screw cap 2. This permits .the`

string to be wound about the fastener and the lid to be screwed upon the jar, enclosing the entire mechanism of the bubble blower within the jar, when not in use.

'Lfhe various adjunctive parts of the bubblerblower as described may be sold without the jar, since any jar of the smaller mason type for example, is adapted to be used. The fastener 34 is made with a safety pin type impaling point 35 which is inserted Vthrough the paper lining of the lid of any jar of the type indicated, and which irictionallyclips the liner between said point and the footr36 formed on said pin.

Figure 5 shows an alternative type of nozzle made in two separable sections, a mouthpiece section and a Y section 3S constituting a smoke generating chamber. Within said chamber is a cigarette holder includinga base 39, having a circular cigarette holding clip 4l) at one endend a counter-weight 41 at the other end. Said cigmette holder isslidable upon the iioor of the smoke generating chamber and is withdrawable upon separation of saidsections by means of a small chain i2 attached to said base with its free end extending through a notch 43 in the forward end of the section 38 atV the lower side thereof. A lit cigarette is placed with its butt end in .said clip and extends forwardly out of contact with any surrounding structure so as to enable it to sustain combustion throughout its unsupported length. The clip do has a series of holes 44 about its periphery, by-passing some of the air which is blown into the mouthpiece. smoke. A filter d5 is positioned within the section 3S beyond the cigarette holder through which the smoke passes, said filter being a safety device to prevent theV escape of lit flakes of tobacco.

Incidentally, it may be stated that if a tut't of steel wool saturated with gasoline were held in the jet of air between the mouth of the blower and the lm supporting annulus, the bubbles blown would be iilled with combustible mixture and would burst with a spectacular llash when bubble making liquid the inner wall of which has a convergent portion adjacent the mouth, and a reciprocable unit therein, said unit including a frame, a lm sustaining annulus carried by said frame extending above it with its diametrical plane upright, a weight carried by the lower part of said frame exceedingV the weight of said annulus, a suspending string attached to said frame between said annulus and weight at such point as to cause said unit normally to tilt when freely suspended'so as tov bring said weight into contact with thek innerwall of said jar'y bellw By this device, bubbles are blown lled with y within the projected area of the mouth of said jar, said frame .including stabilizing means extending toward the wall of said jar opposite ths contacted by said weight, said stabilizing means being ci such length as to contact the convergent portion of said wall when tilted upward by the camming action of said weight with said convergent portion when said frame is pulled sutiiciently upward by said suspending means, said annulus being so relatively inclined with respect to said frame as to obliquely overlie the circumference of the mouth of said jar when said weight and stabilizing means are contact with said convergent portion.

2` Bubble blower as claimed in Vclaim 1, said annulus comprising a wire bent into a substantially circular loop, and a circumferential series of spaced sequins threaded on said wire.

3. Bubble blower as claimed in claim l, said annulus comprising a wire bent into a substantially circular loop, and a circumferential series of alternate sequins and spacing beads threaded on said wire.

4. Bubble blower as claimed in claim 1, said annulus comprising a wire bent into a substantially circular loop, a circumferential series of spaced sequins threaded on said loop, and a reservoir secured to said annulus above its upper arc having an aperture in its top and bleed apertures in its bottom directed toward said annulus.

5. Bubble blower as claimed in claim l, including a member having an eye for the passage of said suspending string, said member including means for detachably secur ing it to the mouth of said vessel.

6. Bubble blower as claimed in claim 1, including an air nozzle detachably securable to the mouth of said vessel, and having a mouthpiece, said nozzle being directablc toward the axis of said annulus.

7. Bubble blower including a reciprocable unit adapted to be operated within a jar the inner wall of which has a convergent portion adjacent the mouth, sai-d unit comprising a frame, a lm sustaining annulus carried by said frame extending above it '5th its diametrical plane upright, a weight carried by the lower part of said frame exceeding the weight of said annulus, a suspending string attached to said frame between said annulus and weight at such point as to cause said unit normally to tilt when freely suspended to bring said weight into contact with the inner wall of the jar below the convergent portion and thereby to bring said annulus within the projected area of the mouth of said jar, said frame including stabilizing means adapted to extend toward the wall of said jar opposite that one which the weight is adapted to contact, said stabilizing means being of such length as to contact the convergent portion of said wall when tilted upward by the camming action between said weight and said convergent portion when said frame is pulled sutiiciently upwardly by said suspending means, said annulus being so relatively inclined with respect to said frame as to obliquely overlie the circumference of the mouth of the jar when said weight and stabilizing means are in contact with the convergent portion of the jar.

References Cited inthe lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 554,555 Whaley Feb. 11, 1896 648,891 Abbot May l, 1900 770,288 Horton Sept. 20, 1904 823,388 Blonde June 12, 1906 2,137,034 Sturm Nov. 15, 1938 2,393,039 Gilchrist Ian. 15, 1946 2,514,009 Raspet July 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 276,744 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1952 

